This is the big one, says Vickers

The Sky Blues are used to 'sixpointers' from their 34 years in the top flight - but it remains to be seen whether they have got what it takes to come through a very different battle on Sunday when they entertain playoff rivals Birmingham City.

The Sky Blues are used to 'sixpointers' from their 34 years in the top flight - but it remains to be seen whether they have got what it takes to come through a very different battle on Sunday when they entertain playoff rivals Birmingham City.

Having won their last two away games and, crucially their match in hand, Blues could take a giant step forward in their quest for a top-six finish and dent Coventry City's progress on the way.

The stakes are high and activity in the transfer market is frantic as both sides look to strengthen for the final push.

And while Roland Nilsson is working hard to bring in a loan man to bolster his attack ahead of the match, his opposite number Steve Bruce is desperate to make an emergency signing to plug his defence.

With centre-back Darren Purse starting a three match ban and Steve Vickers struggling to shake off a calf strain following time out with tendinitis, the Blues boss is on the verge of bringing in cover.

Disappointed skipper Vickers, who moved to St Andrews for #425,000 from Middlesbrough, said: "It is as frustrating for me as it is the manager. As Darren begins his suspension he'd like me to be fit and I would like to get back out there.

"But Sunday might just be too soon for me and it would be pointless to try and rush back because if I ended up tearing it that would be my season over.

"I'm not used to being injured, I've been lucky so far in my career so it must be a jinx on me since coming here."

He added: "The lads have done fantastically well over the past few weeks and where we end up is in our own hands.

"Coventry is such a big game for us. If we can take the points off them then we stand a great chance of finishing in the top six.

"We would have Palace and Rotherham to come away and four home games against teams who are mid-table or battling to stay in the division."

If Bruce fails to bring in a new player it looks likely that he will shift Jeff Kenna across from right-back to fill in alongside Michael Johnson, and draft Nicky Eaden in at fullback while Martin Grainger should keep his place on the left in a 4-4-2 line-up.

Although Wimbledon's Michael Hughes is poised to sign on loan today, the midfielder is not expected to feature on Sunday.

Bruce is set to keep faith with Paul Devlin on the right, Brian Hughes and Curtis Woodhouse in the middle and youngster Tom Williams wide left ahead of Stan Lazaridis who is expected to have to make do with a place on the bench.

Williams, a #350,000 signing from Peterborough made an impressive debut in the 1-0 win at Norwich last week.

England under-18 international Darren Carter was rested for that game but should feature in the squad.

Up front, meanwhile, recent Nottingham Forest signing Stern John is in hot form having hit three in his last three games and four overall since his #100,000 move last month alongside leading scorer Tommy Mooney on 14 goals.